Valve Assembly for a Pump

ABSTRACT

A pump includes a bottle, an air-pumping device, a cover, a valve assembly and a buoyant. The air-pumping device is operable to pump air out of the bottle and therefore pump liquid into the bottle. The cover includes an opening and a channel. The bottle is in communication with the exterior thereof via the opening and in communication with the air-pumping device via the channel when the cover is attached to the bottle and the air-pumping device. The valve assembly is movable in the bottle between a first position for releasing the channel as the pump is in an upright position and a second position for blocking the channel as the pump is in a tilted position. The buoyant floats on the liquid in the bottle and moves the valve assembly into the second position as the bottle is almost full of the liquid in the upright position.

CROSS-REFERENCE

The present invention is a continuation-in-part application ofco-pending application Ser. No. 13/153,457 of which the entiredisclosure is incorporated herein.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a pump and, more particularly, to avalve assembly for a pump.

2. Related Prior Art

As discussed in application Ser. No. 13/153,457 referring to FIGS. 1 and2, there is inevitably leak of the used oil 15 from the pump 30 throughthe channel 43 of the upper cover 40 because the channel 43 is releasedfrom the valve 18 when the used oil 15 is pulled from the pump 30.

As discussed in application Ser. No. 13/153,457 referring to FIGS. 3 to19, the inverted-position leak-preventing device is expected to avoidany leak of used oil 15 from the pump 30. The operation of theinverted-position leak-preventing device is sometimes not fast enough toavoid leak of the used oil 15 from the pump 30.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at leastalleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a pumpthat effectively prevents leak.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the pump includes a bottle, anair-pumping device, a cover, a valve assembly and a buoyant. Theair-pumping device is operable to pump air out of the bottle andtherefore pump liquid into the bottle. The cover includes an opening anda channel. The bottle is in communication with the exterior thereof viathe opening and in communication with the air-pumping device via thechannel when the cover is attached to the bottle and the air-pumpingdevice. The valve assembly is movable in the bottle between a firstposition for releasing the channel as the pump is in an upright positionand a second position for blocking the channel as the pump is in atilted position. The buoyant floats on the liquid in the bottle andmoves the valve assembly into the second position as the bottle isalmost full of the liquid in the upright position.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention willbe apparent from the following description referring to the attacheddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration ofseveral embodiments referring to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a pump with a valve assembly in accordancewith the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the valve assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the valve assembly illustrated inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view of the valve assembly shown in FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a valve assembly inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a valve assembly inaccordance with the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a valve of a valve assembly inaccordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a valve of a valve assembly inaccordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a tubular guiding element and a pusher ofa valve assembly in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a tubular guiding element and a pusherof a valve assembly in accordance with the seventh embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is a cut-away view of a tubular guiding element and a pusher ofa valve assembly in accordance with the eighth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a cut-away view of a tubular guiding element and a pusher ofa valve assembly in accordance with the ninth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a valve assembly inaccordance with the tenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a valve assembly inaccordance with the eleventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a pump with the valveassembly shown FIG. 1; and

FIG. 16 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a pump with the valveassembly shown FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 through 4, a pump 30 includes a bottle 31, anair-pumping device and a valve assembly 90 according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention. The air-pumping device is used topump air out of the bottle 31 to pump liquid 15 such as used oil intothe bottle 31. The valve assembly 90 prevents leak of the liquid 15 fromthe bottle 31 when the bottle 31 is tilted or inverted.

The bottle 31 is formed with a lower open end and an upper open end. Alower cover 33 is attached to the lower open end of the bottle 31. Anannular buoyant 13 is movably placed in the bottle 31.

The air-pumping unit includes a cylinder 50, a flexible piston 53, a rod52 and a handle 51. The cylinder 50 is located in the bottle 31. Thecylinder 50 is inserted through the annular buoyant 13. A lower end ofthe cylinder 50 is in contact with the lower cover 33 so that the spacein the cylinder 50 is separated from the space in the bottle 31. A checkvalve assembly 34 is located in an aperture made in the lower cover 33so that the check valve assembly 34 is located in the cylinder 50.

The flexible piston 53 is movably located in the cylinder 50. Theflexible piston 53 is attached to an end of the rod 52 while the handle51 is connected to an opposite end of the rod 52.

An upper cover 40 is formed with a handle 41, an opening 42, a channel43 and a bore 46. The opening 42 is separated from the channel 43 whilethe bore 46 is in communication with the channel 43. The channel 43includes an end closed by a plug 45. A safety valve 44 is placed in anupper end of the bore 46. The upper cover 40 further includes an annularrib that extends around the bore 46.

The upper cover 40 is placed on the bottle 31 and the cylinder 50. Thespace in the bottle 31 is only in communication with the space incylinder 50 via the channel 43.

The valve assembly 90 includes an annular sealing element 91, a tubularguiding element 84, a plate 86, a valve 70, two weights 78 and a pusher74. The annular sealing element 91 is fit in a lower open end of thebore 46.

The tubular guiding element 84 extends from the plate 86 in a slantmanner, i.e., there is a slant relation between an axis along which thechannel in the tubular guiding element 84 extends and a plane in whichthe plate 86 extends. The tubular guiding element 84 inherently includesa channel 89. The tubular guiding element 84 includes a longitudinalslot 85.

The plate 86 is made with adequate thickness so that an annular groove87 can be made therein. The plate 86 includes an annular rib 88 incommunication with the tubular guiding element 84. The annular groove 87extends around the annular rib 88.

The plate 86 is attached to the upper cover 40. The annular groove 87receives the annular rib of the upper cover 40. The annular rib 88 isinserted in the annular rib of the upper cover 40. The channel 89 is incommunication with the bore 46. The channel 89 extends toward theopening 42 as it extends upward.

The bore 46 extends along an axis L1 that extends vertically when thepump 30 is placed in an upright position. The tubular guiding element 84extends along an axis L2. There is a sharp angle θ between the axes L1and L2. The angle θ is not 0°, i.e., the axes L1 and L2 do not coincide.

The valve 70 and the weights 78 are movably placed in the tubularguiding element 84. The valve 70 is in the form of a ball, and so arethe weights 78. Hence, the valve 70 and the weights 78 can roll smoothlyin the tubular guiding element 84.

The pusher 74 includes an upper section 75 and a lower section 76. Thereis a sharp angle between the upper section 75 of the pusher 74 and thelower section 76. The upper section 75 of the pusher 74 is movablyinserted in the tubular guiding element 84. A screw 77 is driven in theupper section 75 of the pusher 74 via the slot 85 to keep the pusher 74connected to the tubular guiding element 84. The lower section 76 of thepusher 74 is located out of the tubular guiding element 84 and intendedto contact the annular buoyant 13.

In operation, the pump 30 is located in an upright position. A plug (notshown) is fit in the opening 42. A hose (not shown) is inserted throughthe plug. An end of the hose is located in the space in the bottle 31while another end of the hose is submerged in liquid 15 contained in anoil pan. The flexible piston 53 is reciprocated in the cylinder 50 topump air out of the space of the cylinder 50 and hence out of the spaceof the bottle 31. Some of the liquid 15 is hence pumped from the oil paninto the space in the bottle 31.

When the space in the bottle 31 is almost full of the liquid 15, thebore 46 and hence the channel 43 are blocked by the valve 70, which arepushed by the pusher 74, which is lifted by the annular buoyant 13,which floats on the liquid 15 that is contained in the bottle 31. Thus,no more liquid 15 can be pumped into the space in the bottle 31.

To pour the liquid 15 from the pump 30, the plug is removed from theopening 42, and the pump 30 is tilted or inverted. Due to the way inwhich the tubular guiding element 84 extends, the valve 70 rolls quicklyin the tubular guiding element 84 to the annular sealing element 91 toabut the annular sealing element 91 to block the bore 46 and thereforethe channel 43 before the liquid 15 reaches the opening 42. There is noleak of the liquid 15 from the pump 30 through the channel 43. That is,the liquid 15 only leaves the pump 30 via the opening 42.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is a valve assembly in accordance with thesecond embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment islike the first embodiment except that the valve 70 is in the form of acapsule and so is each of the weights 78. That is, the valve 70 is ashort rod formed with two rounded ends, and so is each of the weights78.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is a valve assembly in accordance with thethird embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is likethe first embodiment except that the valve 70 is in the form of a tabletand so is each of the weights 78. Such a tablet is made with a diameterlarger than thickness.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is a valve assembly in accordance with thefourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment islike the first embodiment except that the valve 70 is in the form of arod that includes two flat ends.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is a valve assembly in accordance with thefifth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment is likethe first embodiment except that the valve 70 is in the form of a conewith a smaller, rounded end and a larger, flat end.

To achieve identical pressure for blocking the bore 46, the valve 70 canbe replaced by a larger ball while the weights 78 are saved in anotherembodiment. However, several small balls are better than a large ballfor involving a smaller and less expensive valve assembly.

To achieve identical pressure for blocking the bore 46, the valve 70 canbe replaced by a plunger while the weights 78 are saved in still anotherembodiment. However, several balls are better than a plunger forinvolving less friction on the internal face of the tubular guidingelement 84 and smoother movement.

Referring to FIG. 9, there is a valve assembly in accordance with thesixth embodiment of the present invention. The sixth embodiment isidentical to the first embodiment except including a circular pin 93instead of the screw 77.

Referring to FIG. 10, there is a valve assembly in accordance with theseventh embodiment of the present invention. The seventh embodiment islike the first embodiment except including a square pin 94 instead ofthe circular pin 93.

Referring to FIG. 11, there is a valve assembly in accordance with theeighth embodiment of the present invention. The eighth embodiment islike the sixth embodiment except several things. At first, the tubularguiding element 84 includes two grooves 96 instead of the slots 85. Thegrooves 96 receive two ends of the pin 93. Secondly, a C-clip 99 is fitused to keep the ends of the pin 93 in the grooves 96. Thirdly, thepusher 74 is a circular element.

Referring to FIG. 12, there is a valve assembly in accordance with theninth embodiment of the present invention. The ninth embodiment isidentical to the eighth embodiment except three things. At first, thegrooves 96 are saved. Secondly, the upper section 75 of the pusher 74includes a slot 97. The pin 93 is inserted through the slot 97. The endsof the pin 93 are driven in the tubular guiding element 84. Thirdly, theC-clip 99 is saved.

Referring to FIG. 13, there is a valve assembly in accordance with thetenth embodiment of the present invention. The tenth embodiment is likethe first embodiment except that the pusher 74 is made with arectilinear configuration. Only a lower end of the pusher 74 is placedout of the tubular guiding element 84 when the pusher 74 is fully liftedby the annular buoyant 13, which floats on the liquid 15.

Referring to FIG. 14, there is a valve assembly in accordance with theeleventh embodiment of the present invention. The eleventh embodiment islike the first embodiment except that the upper cover 40 and the plate86 are made one.

The valve assembly 90 can be used in another pump with reference to FIG.15. This pump does not include the air-pumping unit shown in FIGS. 1through 4. This pump includes a joint 54 formed on the upper cover 40.The joint 54 can be connected to an air compressor via a hose forexample.

The valve assembly 90 can be used in another pump with reference to FIG.16. This pump does not include the air-pumping unit shown in FIGS. 1through 4. This pump includes a joint 55 formed on the upper cover 40.The joint 55 can be connected to an air compressor via a hose forexample.

The present invention has been described via the detailed illustrationof the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations fromthe embodiments without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scopeof the present invention defined in the claims.

1. A pump including: a bottle; an air-pumping device for pumping air outof the bottle and therefore pumping liquid into the bottle; a coverincluding an opening and a channel, wherein the bottle is incommunication with the exterior thereof via the opening and incommunication with the air-pumping device via the channel when the coveris attached to the bottle and the air-pumping device; a valve assemblymovable in the bottle between a first position for releasing the channelas the pump is in an upright position and a second position for blockingthe channel as the pump is in a tilted position; and a buoyant forfloating on the liquid in the bottle and moving the valve assembly intothe second position as the bottle is almost full of the liquid in theupright position.
 2. The pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein thevalve assembly includes a valve movably placed in the bottle to blockthe channel as the valve assembly is in the second position.
 3. The pumpin accordance with claim 2, wherein the valve is a ball.
 4. The pump inaccordance with claim 2, wherein the valve is a tablet.
 5. The pump inaccordance with claim 2, wherein the valve is a rod.
 6. The pump inaccordance with claim 5, wherein the valve includes at least one roundedend.
 7. The pump in accordance with claim 2, wherein the valve is acone.
 8. The pump in accordance with claim 7, wherein the rod includes arounded, smaller end and a flat, larger end.
 9. The pump in accordancewith claim 2, wherein the valve assembly includes a tubular guidingelement attached to the cover so that the tubular guiding elementextends toward the cover as the tubular guiding element extends upward,wherein the valve is quickly moves in the tubular guiding element intothe second position to block the channel before the liquid is pouredfrom the pump through the opening.
 10. The pump in accordance with claim9, wherein the valve assembly includes an annular sealing element fit inthe channel, wherein the valve abuts the annular sealing element toblock the channel in the second position of the valve assembly.
 11. Thepump in accordance with claim 9, wherein the valve assembly includes aplate formed at an upper end of the tubular guiding element and attachedto the cover.
 12. The pump in accordance with claim 9, wherein the valveassembly includes a pusher formed with an upper section movably insertedin the tubular guiding element to contact the valve and a lower sectionplaced out of the tubular guiding element to contact the buoyant. 13.The pump in accordance with claim 12, wherein the valve assemblyincludes a screw inserted in the upper section of the pusher, whereinthe tubular guiding element includes at least one slot for receiving atleast one end of the screw.
 14. The pump in accordance with claim 12,wherein the valve assembly includes a pin inserted in the upper sectionof the pusher, wherein the tubular guiding element includes at least oneslot for receiving at least one end of the pin.
 15. The pump inaccordance with claim 12, wherein the valve assembly includes a pininserted in the upper section of the pusher, wherein the tubular guidingelement includes at least one groove for receiving at least one end ofthe pin.
 16. The pump in accordance with claim 15, wherein the valveassembly includes a C-clip fit in the tubular guiding element to keepthe end of the pin in the groove.
 17. The pump in accordance with claim12, wherein the valve assembly includes a pin transversely inserted inthe tubular guiding element, wherein the upper section of the pusherincludes at least one slot for receiving the pin.
 18. The pump inaccordance with claim 10, wherein there is a sharp angle between theupper and lower sections of the pusher.
 19. The pump in accordance withclaim 10, wherein the valve assembly includes at least one weight placedbetween the valve and the pusher.